CSEC DISEASE

Objectives:
1. Define health
2. Define disease
Health is a condition of holistic (physiological, mental and psychological)
wellbeing.
Disease is a condition in which one’s holistic (physiological, mental and
psychological) wellbeing is impaired, caused by malfunction of cells, tissues or
organs.

Objective:
Distinguish among the types of disease. Cite examples of each.

Objectives:
o Distinguish between signs and symptoms of a disease.
Sign – measurable/observable by someone other than the patient
Symptom - measurable/observable by the patient only
 o Distinguish between treatment and control of a disease.
Treatment – measures taken to cure a disease or reduce suffering by the
patient
Control – measures taken to prevent or reduce the spread of the disease

o Distinguish among the types of treatment for different categories of

disease.

Table by Anne Tindale

 o Distinguish among the types of control for different categories of
disease.

Table by Anne Tindale

Objective:
Briefly describe the causes, predisposing factors, signs, symptoms,
treatment and control of diabetes (a physiological disease).
Type 1 – early-onset/juvenile diabetes
Type 2 – late-onset/adult diabetes

Cause:
Type 1 diabetes is caused by the destruction of the pancreas by one’s own
immune system. It is an autoimmune condition.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by either an inability of the pancreas to secrete insulin
or the inability of body cells to respond to the presence of insulin.

Predisposing factors/risk factors:

The risk of type 1 diabetes is increased if one has pre-existing other
autoimmune conditions. Females tend to suffer from autoimmune diseases
more commonly than males. There is a correlation between prior infection by
viruses and autoimmune conditions.
The risk of type 2 diabetes is increased by obesity (especially in the abdomen
area) and a high carbohydrate diet (especially easily digested/quick release
carbohydrate.)

Signs and symptoms:

o Prolonged high blood glucose level (above 120mg mL-1blood) after
eating
o Presence of glucose in urine
o Weight loss (glucose stays in blood and is excreted in urine. The body
uses its fat stores as a source of energy.)
o Fatigue and listlessness (one’s body cells do not have access to glucose –
it remains in the blood)

Treatment:
o Pills to stimulate insulin production by the pancreas
o Pills to reduce the rate of absorption of glucose by the blood (from the
intestine)
o Injections of insulin (if the pills do not work)
o Low-carbohydrate diet (the carbohydrates included in the diet should be
slow-release/complex/take a long time to be digested and therefore, are
released slowly into the blood, so avoiding a spike in blood glucose level)
 o High-fibre diet (one feels satiated faster and therefore eats less)
o Weight management (to prevent the diabetic condition from worsening)
by engagement in exercise. Exercise increases the rate of respiration, so
more glucose is used by the body. This stimulates uptake of glucose by
cells (so its level in the blood is lowered.) Exercise also improves the
efficiency of the circulatory system, increasing the distribution of
nutrients such as oxygen and insulin to cells. Exercise increases overall
fitness.

Control:
o Low-carbohydrate diet (the carbohydrates included in the diet should be
slow-release/complex/take a long time to be digested and therefore, are
released slowly into the blood, so avoiding a spike in blood glucose level)
o High-fibre diet (one feels satiated faster and therefore eats less)
o Weight management by engagement in exercise. Exercise also improves
the efficiency of the circulatory system, increasing the distribution of
nutrients such as oxygen and insulin to cells. Exercise increases overall
fitness.
o Education of the public about risk and prevention factors for diabetes

Objective:
Briefly describe the causes, predisposing factors, signs, symptoms,
treatment and control of hypertension (a physiological disease).
Hypertension is chronic high blood pressure

Cause:
There is no known cause.
Predisposing factors/risk factors:
Atherosclerosis (deposits of blood clots, plaque) in arteries causes them to be
less elastic. They cannot bulge and recoil as before. The volume of the arteries
is reduced, increasing blood pressure.
Obesity is associated with high blood pressure. Obesity is associated with
atherosclerosis.
Stress – the body responds to psychological distress in the same manner as it
does to physical distress. This includes increased blood pressure for increased
delivery of nutrients to cells.
High salt diets will stimulate retention of water in the blood. A large volume of
blood increases the risk of high blood pressure.
Smoking – cigarette smoke contains nicotine. Nicotine constricts blood vessels,
increasing blood pressure.
Alcohol consumption – ethanol releases a lot of energy when it is oxidised. A
person will obtain their energy from alcohol and will not need their food. Their
food is stored as fat. Being overweight is associated with high blood pressure.
High-fat diet –increases the risk of obesity and deposition of fat in arteries.
Sedentary lifestyle – increases the risk of obesity

Signs and symptoms:

o Blood pressure of higher than 120/80 mmHg

Treatment:
o Medication to reduce blood pressure
o Measures to reduce the risk factors (exercise, low salt diet, low fat diet,
low/no alcohol intake, stress management, weight management, less/no
smoking)
Control:
o Measures to reduce the risk factors (exercise, low salt diet, low fat diet,
low/no alcohol intake, stress management, weight management, less/no
smoking)
o Education of the public about risk and prevention factors for hypertension
Objective:
Identify the stages of the life cycle of a mosquito. For each stage, identify
its habitat and mode of life.
The mosquito’s life cycle involves complete metamorphosis: it develops from
egg to maturity in four distinct stages.

Habitat and mode of life (by Anne Tindale)

Objective:
Suggest appropriate methods of control of each stage of the life cycle of the
mosquito.
Objective:
Describe the role of the mosquito as a vector in the transmission of
pathogenic diseases (malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever.)

The diagram above shows the transmission of the protozoan that causes malaria

The diagram above shows the transmission of the virus that causes dengue fever
The diagram above shows the transmission of the virus that causes yellow fever

You do not need to memorise the cycles. You need to recognise that humans
harbour/contain the pathogen at some points in its life cycle, and mosquitoes
harbour/contain the pathogen at other times. Humans and mosquitoes are both
hosts of the pathogens.
Humans are the primary host and are adversely affected by the pathogens.
Mosquitoes are the secondary host/intermediate host and are not adversely
affected by the pathogens (reproduction of the pathogen occurs in the secondary
host.)
Humans can prevent their infection by the pathogen by removal of the vector,
since the vector is the means by which the pathogen is transmitted from a
human/other animal to another human/other animal. It is important to know the
specific ways in which the vector can be eliminated, at each stage of its life
cycle.
Note, however, that mosquitoes, like all organisms, have their ecological niche
and so contribute to the self-sustainability of the ecosystem. Removal of
mosquitoes disrupt the functioning of the ecosystem.
Objective:
Describe the pathogenic diseases malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever.
Malaria
o Transmitted by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles (female
mosquitoes need blood meals for protein to produce their eggs)
o Mosquito attacks by uninfected mosquitoes do not result in transmission
of malaria
o The pathogen is Plasmodium, a unicellular eukaryote
o Plasmodium is resistant to many drugs
o Anopheles mosquitoes are active (and bite) at night
o Mosquitoes live in tropical areas
o Asymptomatic malaria the patient has circulating parasites but no
symptoms.

o Uncomplicated malaria Symptoms generally occur 7-10 days after the

initial mosquito bite. Symptoms are non-specific and can include fever,
moderate to severe shaking chills, profuse sweating, headache, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhoea and anaemia, with no evidence of severe organ
dysfunction.

o Severe malaria Complications include severe anaemia and end-organ

damage, including coma (cerebral malaria), pulmonary complications
(for example, fluid accumulation in lungs) and hypoglycaemia or acute
kidney injury. Severe malaria is often associated with hyperparasitaemia
(more than 5% of red blood cells are infected by the parasite) and is
associated with increased mortality.

o Malaria is treated with prescription drugs to kill the parasite. The types
of drugs and the length of treatment will vary, depending on the species
of Plasmodium that infected the person, the severity of their symptoms,
their age and whether they are pregnant.
Dengue fever
o Transmitted by infected female mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti (female
mosquitoes need blood meals for protein to produce their eggs)
o Mosquito attacks by uninfected mosquitoes do not result in transmission
of dengue fever
o The pathogen is dengue fever virus (DENV). There are four types of the
virus.
o Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are active (and bite) during the day
o Mosquitoes live in tropical areas
o Dengue fever is treated by oral rehydration medicines, painkillers and
anti-inflammatory drugs. These reduce the suffering of the patient but do
not kill the virus.
o Signs and Symptoms are listed below:
Many people experience no signs or symptoms of a dengue infection.

When symptoms do occur, they may be mistaken for other illnesses — such as
the flu — and usually begin four to 10 days after you are bitten by an infected
mosquito.

Dengue fever causes a high fever (400) — and any of the following signs and
symptoms:

• Headache
• Muscle, bone or joint pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pain behind the eyes
• Swollen lymph glands
• Rash
Most people recover within a week or so. In some cases, symptoms worsen
and can become life-threatening. This is called severe dengue, dengue
hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Severe dengue happens when your blood vessels become damaged and leaky.
And the number of clot-forming cells (platelets) in your bloodstream drops.
This can lead to shock, internal bleeding, organ failure and even death.

Warning signs of severe dengue fever — which is a life-threatening emergency

— can develop quickly. The warning signs usually begin the first day or two
after your fever goes away, and may include:

• Severe stomach pain

• Persistent vomiting
• Bleeding from your gums or nose
• Blood in your urine, stools or vomit
• Bleeding under the skin, which might look like bruising
• Difficult or rapid breathing
• Fatigue
• Irritability or restlessness

Yellow fever
o Transmitted by female mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (female
mosquitoes need blood meals for protein to produce their eggs). The
most common species of Aedes that transmits yellow fever is Aedes
aegypti
o Mosquito attacks by uninfected mosquitoes do not result in transmission
of malaria
o The pathogen is yellow fever virus, a virus which belongs to a family of
flaviviruses
o Aedes mosquitoes are active (and bite) during the day
o Mosquitoes live in tropical areas
o Vaccines are available to prevent yellow fever
o Signs and symptoms include:
o Yellow fever begins after an incubation period of three to 6
days. Most cases cause only a mild infection with fever, headache,
chills, back pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle pain, nausea, and
vomiting. In these cases, the infection lasts only three to six days.
o But in 15% of cases, people enter a second, toxic phase of the
disease characterized by recurring fever, this time accompanied
by jaundice due to liver damage, as well as abdominal
pain. Bleeding in the mouth, nose, eyes, and gastrointestinal
tract cause vomit containing blood. There may also be kidney
failure, hiccups, and delirium.
o Among those who develop jaundice, the fatality rate is 20 to 50%,
while the overall fatality rate is about 3 to 7.5%. Severe cases may
have a mortality greater than 50%.
o Surviving the infection provides lifelong immunity, and normally results in
no permanent organ damage.

o Yellow fever is treated with rehydration and pain relief drugs such as
paracetamol. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are avoided because
of the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Objective:
Describe the transmission and control of AIDS and gonorrhoea
By Anne Tindale
Objective:
Discuss the social, environmental and economic implications of disease.
Consider effects of both plant and animal diseases.
o Loss of productivity in workplaces
Patients are unable to work, or work for less hours and not as efficiently
as healthy persons.
o Loss of life of humans, animals, plants
Some diseases are fatal.
o Reduced yields
Plants produce fewer and lower quality fruits, vegetables and other
marketable plant products, when they are diseased. Animals produce
less and lower quality milk, meat, skin and other marketable products,
when they are diseased.
Reduced yields may lead to food shortages within a country. The
country may not be able to meet its export demands. The country may
be forced to import those products. If the products are imported
instead of locally produced, workers in local farms and industries may
lose their jobs. Local businesses may cease to operate. Lowered supply
of produce may result in increased prices of the products.
o Increased strain on welfare and healthcare systems
Researchers, workers, time and money are needed for diagnosis,
treatment, control, purchase of hospital supplies, medicines and medical
research.
o Strain on families
Caring for sick family members causes emotional distress. The cost of
medication and hospitalisation is expensive. Caregivers sometimes are
away from their jobs for extended periods of time or may cease working
 outside of the home altogether. The caregivers may also be at increased
risk of being infected, in the case of pathogenic diseases. Less attention
may be available to household members other than the patient. If
parents or guardians are patients or stay-at-home caregivers, there may
be less income available for the family.
o Environmental pollution
Plant diseases may result in increased use of fungicides, etc. These may
contain chemicals that are non-biodegradable.
o Decreased tourism
If there are outbreaks of disease, tourism may decline. This is important
for Caribbean countries that rely on tourism for their income.

Consider the effects of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually

transmitted infections (STIs). The following points are specific to HIV, but most
of them apply to bother STDs as well:
By Anne Tindale:
By Linda Atwaroo-Ali:

Objective:
Define “drug”
A drug is a chemical which alters the physiology of an organ or system by
changing its metabolism.

Other words/phrases you may wish to be familiar with:

Legal drug
Illegal drug
Prescription drug
Non-prescription drug
Socially acceptable drug
Socially unacceptable drug
Drug use
Drug abuse
Tolerance
Addiction/dependence
Physical dependence
Psychological dependence

Objective:
Classify drugs
o Stimulants
o Increase action of CNS
o Increases alertness
o E.g. caffeine, nicotine, cocaine
o Overuse can result in restlessness, tremors, overactive reflexes,
rapid breathing, confusion, aggression, hallucinations, panic
states, abnormally increased fever, muscle pains and weakness.
o Depressants
o Decrease action of CNS
o E.g. alcohol, heroin, marijuana, tranquillisers
o Overuse of tranquillisers can lead to slurred speech, poor
muscular coordination, poor attention span, dizziness, sleepiness,
blurred vision, hallucinations, mental confusion, low blood
pressure and apathy
o Hallucinogens
o Distort perceptions of reality
o Cause hallucinations, paranoia and delusional beliefs
 o Signs of abuse include nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure,
increased heart rate, muscular spasms, poor judgment,
hallucinations, delusions, agitation, mood swings and aggression.
o E.g. LSD

o Analgesics
o Decrease the perception of pain
o E.g. codeine, heroin

o Overuse results in extremely frequent headaches, nausea,

restlessness, difficulty in concentration, memory loss and irritability

o Antibiotics
o Selectively kill bacteria
o Overuse or failure to use a complete course/prescription may lead
to the evolution of resistance to the antibiotics, by the bacteria

o Diet pills
o Work in a variety of ways, e.g. increased metabolism, decreased
fat absorption, increased metabolism of fat
o Overuse can lead to nervousness, anxiety, diarrhoea, increased
heart rate, increased blood pressure, stomach pain, insomnia,
heart palpitations and heart failure.
Objective:
Describe the physiological effects of alcohol (ethanol)
By Anne Tindale
By Linda Atwaroo-Ali
Objective:
Describe the physiological effects of an illegal drug
By Anne Tindale

By Linda Atwaroo-Ali

By American Addiction Centers

• Auditory hallucinations
• Restlessness
• Paranoia
• Psychosis
 • If the linings of the veins and arteries are damaged, it can lead to chronic
headaches as blood flow to the brain is restricted.
• That damage can also cause blood clots, which can lead to a stroke.
• The drug can also cause seizures, either during bingeing or chronic
abuse, or cause a seizure disorder to develop, which will require long-
term treatment.
• Death of brain cells

Objective:
Describe the social and economic effects of drug use.
o Loss of productivity
o Persons cannot function at school or at their jobs when under the
influence of drugs or during the after-effects (hangovers)
o This leads to poor exam grades, behaviour problems, lowered
prospects of school completion and employment
o Financial problems for the individual and the workplace
o Accidents
o Accidents occur frequently when persons are under the influence
of alcohol
o Domestic violence
o Intrafamily violence is a direct effect of some drugs or an indirect
reaction of addiction
o Families of addicts are often neglected and abused
o Some drugs are mood altering, cause delusions, paranoia and
hallucinations. These cause unpredictable and violent behaviours.
o Crime
o Illegal drug traders use crime and violence as a method of
controlling their businesses. They are often involved in human
trafficking and other illegal businesses, e.g. trading in illegal
firearms.
o Sexually transmitted diseases
o Distorted or depressed brain function while under the influence of
drugs causes persons to engage in behaviours that increase the
chances of being infected by a pathogen, e.g. unprotected sexual
intercourse or sharing of needles for intravenous drug use.
Persons may engage in prostitution to obtain money for drug
purchases.
o Cost of social welfare and healthcare systems
o Children of abusive families or drug addicts may be placed in
foster care. Foster care homes need money.
o Medication, hospitalisation and rehabilitation pf addicts cost
money.
o Drug users who become criminals may be imprisoned. Prisons
cost money to operate.
o Accidents caused by persons under the influence of drugs cause
medical bills and hospitalisation.